Private military and security companies: Implementation of Montreux document

Private military and security companies: Montreux Document participants establish the Montreux Document Forum to continue working on implementation

The Montreux Document reaffirms the existing obligations of states under international law relating to private military and security companies (PMSCs) operating in armed conflict, and lists good practices designed to help states take national measures to implement these obligations. Six years after its adoption, Montreux Document participants have now established the "Montreux Document Forum" to continue working on the implementation of the Montreux Document and to share good practices and discuss challenges regarding the regulation of PMSCs. The Montreux Document is now supported by 51 states and three international organizations: the EU, the OSCE and NATO.

By providing a venue for informal consultation among Montreux Document participants, the Montreux Document Forum seeks to support national implementation of the Montreux Document and the development of implementation tools, as well as to bring more states to actively support it. The Forum further aims to strengthen dialogue on lessons-learned, good practices and challenges related to the regulation of PMSCs.

The Montreux Document, which was finalized on 17 September 2008, is the result of a joint initiative launched in 2006 by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). As the initiators of the Montreux Document, Switzerland and the ICRC will act as the initial Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum. The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) will carry out secretariat functions for the Montreux Document Forum.

The Constitutional Meeting of the Montreux Document Forum took place on 16 December 2014 in Geneva. It was chaired by Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, Director of the Directorate of International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and Dr Helen Durham, Director of International Law and Policy of the International Committee of the Red Cross.